ABOVEMargaret Claffey, Agnes Weafer, Patricia Carroll, Anne Donoghue, Teresa Collentine, Carmel Kerrigan, Tina Kellegher, Cepta Wallace, and Sr Therese at the launch.

Sunflower Day 2023 launched

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ABOVE Margaret Claffey, Agnes Weafer, Patricia Carroll, Anne Donoghue, Teresa Collentine, Carmel Kerrigan, Tina Kellegher, Cepta Wallace, and Sr Therese at the launch.

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Teresa Collentine, Tina Kellegher and Margaret Claffey on Wednesday morning.

Published: Mon 22 May 2023, 4:43 PM

Last updated: Mon 22 May 2023, 4:47 PM

North Westmeath Hospice launched their annual Sunflower Day Collection, which takes place on June 9 and 10, at their premises on Mary Street, Mullingar.

The aim of Sunflower Day is to raise funds to support the specialist teams who provide end-of-life care to terminally ill patients, in the comfort of their own home or in a dedicated hospice bed in the north Westmeath area.

Chairperson Margaret Claffey is asking for anyone who can, to come out and support North Westmeath Hospice collection teams on Friday and Saturday, June 9 and 10, at a number of locations across Mullingar town centre.

She emphasised that all funds raised on the day will stay local and go towards care in the area.

Present at the launch was North Westmeath Hospice ambassador Tina Kellegher.

“I’ve been involved in North Westmeath Hospice since 2008, when the first fundraising committee was set up, and the reason I became involved is I had family who had the use of hospice care and it meant so much to me,” Ms Kellegher told the Westmeath Examiner.

“My father died 23 years ago but he got to die at home and in comfort, which is what he wanted, and we were able to give him that care because the palliative care team made it possible,” she continued.

“I wanted to give something back so that other people could have that experience with their loved ones, and for them to be able to make that choice to be at home and end their days as comfortably as possible.”

Committee member, Teresa Collentine, remarked on how far hospice care in this area has improved in the last 15 years.

“We now have our own palliative care consultant and she is doing Trojan work in this area, and we are very much looking forward to the sod being turned on the new level three palliative care unit in Tullamore, which will be a dedicated unit serving Westmeath, Longford, Laois and Offaly,” said Teresa.

She added that while there are two level two beds in Mullingar hospital and two at St Camillus Nursing Home in Killucan, there are currently no level 3 beds.

“It will be another choice for people whose medical condition may mean they have complex needs that cannot be treated in their own homes. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has pledged €20 million towards a level three unit in Tullamore, which will be a 20-bed standalone unit for stage three hospice patients and their families.

“Once that’s up and running, it will be brilliant because protocol at the moment means that you have to go through the Emergency Department first.”